Top Alabama prospect commits to MSU baseball

STARKVILLE -- When Jesse McCord saw more than 14,000 fans in the stands for the 2013 NCAA Starkville Regional at Dudy Noble Field, he knew Mississippi State University was the place for him.

McCord, who will be a senior pitcher at Spanish Fort (Ala.) High School, verbally committed to the Bulldogs after taking his official visit to the school during the NCAA Regional in Starkville. He had scholarship offers from the University of Alabama, Auburn University, and University of Mississippi. McCord's older brother, Rocky, plays for Auburn.

"Rocky always wanted to play at Auburn," Jesse McCord said to AL.com on July 30. "That was his dream. I just wanted to go where I felt I fit in the best. I think that is State. I feel good about my decision."

As a high school junior, McCord struck out 105 in 69 1/3 innings and had a 0.91 ERA. He went 9-1 this past season and helped lead Spanish Fort to its fourth straight Class 5A championship series appearance. McCord throws in the low 90s and has command of a curveball for strikes.

MSU coaches, who can't comment about McCord due to NCAA compliance rules, saw McCord pitch in summer tournaments in the Atlanta area and offered the member of MaxPreps Underclass All-American Team a scholarship.

Son of former MLB star, MSU great Palmeiro chooses North Carolina State University

Neither of Rafael Palmeiro's two sons will attend their father's alma mater.

Preston Palmeiro, the youngest son of the former MSU legend, has chosen to play this spring at North Carolina State University.

Preston Palmeiro, a graduate of Colleyville (Texas) Heritage High, batted .386 with 34 RBIs and three home runs last spring as a senior. He chose N.C. State over Texas Christian University, Oklahoma State University, the University of North Carolina, and MSU.

Rafael Palmeiro was part of a formidable lineup with Will Clark that led MSU to the College World Series in 1985. Palmeiro later became one of just four players in big league history with 3,000 hits and 500 homers, but his stellar career was overshadowed by a positive test for performance enhancing drugs just weeks after collecting his 3,000th hit in 2005.

MSU's $3.8 million football and baseball indoor practice facility, the Palmeiro Center, was made possible following a lead gift by Palmeiro and his wife, Lynn.

Palmeiro's oldest son, Patrick, just finished his college eligibility playing for the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where former MSU coach Ron Polk serves as a volunteer assistant.

California late rising prospect Dominguez chooses MSU

Aaron Dominguez may be the latest member of the 2015 recruiting class to verbally commit to MSU, but he may be a critical ingredient to making sure MSU's recent success on the mound continues.

Dominguez, a senior right-hander from Chino Hills, Calif., committed to MSU on July 30. MSU pitching coach Butch Thompson saw the 6-foot-, 190-pound Dominguez throw in the low 90s at a tournament in Atlanta.

Dominguez has a wide range of pitches -- fastball, cutter, sweeping curveball -- he can throw for strikes. His athletic frame, uncommon for a pitcher his height, allows for his velocity to stay consistent in the stretch.

Dominguez was a Perfect Game High School All-American Honorable Mention selection in 2012 and 2013. He chose MSU over Long Beach State University and the University of California at Fullerton.